Recipe Sifter

Bruschetta with chopped tomato salad featuring red and yellow bell peppers, capers, fresh basil, and balsamic vinegar. Low-fat, no oil, served as a mound alongside garlic-rubbed toast.

Stuffed squid in saffron sauce: whole squid bodies filled with chopped tentacles, smoked ham, Parmesan, and breadcrumbs, then braised in a saffron-tomato-white wine sauce. Spanish-Italian dinner-party seafood.

Baked mostaccioli and ground turkey casserole layered with tomato sauce, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a light bechamel topped with mozzarella. Greek pastitsio meets weeknight dinner.

Tamale pie in a bacon dripping cornmeal crust filled with seasoned ground beef, corn, green chiles, and tomato sauce, topped with melted Monterey Jack cheese, bacon, and olives. A Tex-Mex pie feast.

Hearty meat and Vidalia onion pie layers ground beef, sweet onions, mushrooms and a Swiss-cheddar sour cream custard over a flaky buttermilk biscuit crust. Southern comfort food in a skillet pie.

Swordfish marinade with soy sauce, orange juice, tomato paste, garlic, and lemon. A savory-citrus blend that caramelizes beautifully on the grill.

Mexican beef casserole layered with flour tortillas, creamed corn, Rotel tomatoes, enchilada sauce, and two cheeses. A crowd-pleasing party dish with serious heat.

Homemade whole wheat pizza dough with cheddar and caraway baked into the crust, topped with broccoli, mushrooms, and mozzarella. A hearty, fiber-rich pizza.

Mixed grain mushroom casserole with wild rice, pearl barley, and brown rice baked in herb-seasoned vegetable broth with sauteed mushrooms and thyme.

Authentic New Mexican chili with cubed beef chuck, pork, mild and hot ground chilies, amber beer, and a long simmer. Serve beans on the side, Southwest-style.

Chili taco salad: spicy chicken chili with kidney beans and chickpeas piled on tortilla chips with lettuce, tomato, jack cheese, sour cream, olives, and jalapenos.

Italian turkey sausage patties with lemon zest, bread crumb coating, herbed tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella. A lighter skillet sausage Parmesan in under 45 minutes.

Bacon-topped meatloaf made with a classic mix of ground beef, pork and veal, seasoned with marjoram, oregano and basil. Shaped into round loaves and crossed with bacon for a crisp, salty crust.

Italian bean and pasta salad with anasazi beans, spinach spaghetti, fresh vegetables, and a lemon-herb dressing. A no-cook, protein-packed side that improves as it chills.

Spicy chicken tortilla soup where crushed tortilla chips simmer right into the broth, thickening it and lending a toasty corn flavor. Chipotle and cayenne bring the heat, lime and cilantro the bright finish.

Black beans and fettuccine topped with a spiced ketchup-tomato sauce, steamed broccoli, and colorful bell peppers. A low-calorie vegetarian pasta that feeds a crowd.